Padlocks

ABSTRACT

A LOCK HAVING A CASING PROVIDED WITH TWO PARALLEL RECESSES FOR RECEIVING THE LEGS OF A U-SHAPED SHACKLE, AND A LOCKING BLOCK WHICH CONTROLS THE POSITIONING OF A LOCKING BOLT. EACH OF THE SHACKLE LEGS IS PROVIDED WITH A SLOT HAVING AT LEAST ONE SURFACE WHICH IS OBLIQUE WITH RESPECT TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE PARALLEL RECESSES. THE POSITION-   ABLE LOCKING BOLT HAS A PORTION WHICH COMPLEMENTS THE SLOT IN THE SHACKLE LEGS TO SELECTIVELY AND SECURELY LOCK THE SHACKLE AGAINST UNDESIRED MOVEMENT WITH A DOUBLE LOCKING EFFECT.

Oct. 19, 1971 J. PAIOLETTI 3,613,409

PADLOCKS Filed Jan. 5, 1970 2 Shoots-Sheet 1 IIIIIII gj INVENTOR JOSEPAIOLETTI ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1971 Filed Jan.

J. PAIOLETTI PADLOCKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOSE PAOLETTI ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 3,613,409 PADLOCKS Jose Paioletti, Av. AlcantaraMachado, 884-886 Sao Paulo, Brazil Filed Jan. 5, 1970, Ser. No. 561 Int.Cl. E05!) 67/22 US. CI. 70-38 A 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Alock having a casing provided with two parallel recesses for receivingthe legs of a U-shaped shackle, and a locking block which controls thepositioning of a locking bolt. Each of the shackle legs is provided witha slot having at least one surface which is oblique with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the parallel recesses. The positionable loekingbolt has a portion which complements the slot in the shackle legs toselectively and securely lock the shackle against undesired movementwith a double locking effect.

The present invention relates to a lock having outstanding securityfeatures, and in particular relate to an improved padlock which isprovided with predetermined shaped internal slots which complement amovable and positionable locking bolt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known that conventional padlocks haveU-shaped shackle members with two parallel legs. One of the legsnormally rests on a spring positioned in a longitudinal side lodgment.The other of the legs is permitted to be fastened in a short oppositerecess or lodgment. Both legs of the shackle member are provided withinternal rectangular indentations which, by means of turning of a keyfor a lock, accommodate rectangular prismatic bolts which are driven ormoved by an eccentric shaft provided into the locking block.

Such conventional padlocks, in spite of the apparent double lockingeffect, are readily violable by tapping the side of the casing at apoint where the locking bolts are located. Such tapping causes the axialdisplacement of the locking bolts one after another until the shacklemember is free to move and unlock.

The improved padlock provided by the present invention was designedspecifically and purposely to eliminate once and for all the possibilityof an unauthorized opening of the look. In accordance with the presentinvention, once the lock has been locked, that is to say, when thelocking bolts are driven or moved by the locking block and into thepre-established and predetermined shaped internal slots on the inside ofthe lower extremity of the shackle leg, then the actual removal of thelocking bolt is not possible by tapping the outside of the lockedcasing. On the contrary, if the casing is tapped, the fastening stemwill undergo a stronger blockage or locking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a lock having acasing provided with two parallel recesses and at least one positionablelocking bolt. A selectively movable locking block controls thepositioning of the locking bolt. There is also provided a shackle memberhaving a first leg which may be introduced into one of said parallelrecesses and having a second leg which may be introduced into the otherof said two parallel recesses. At least one of the shackle legs isprovided with a slot having at least one surface which is oblique withrespect to the respective longitudinal axis of the two parallelrecesses. The positionable locking bolt has a portion shaped to mate orcomplement with the slot 3,613,409 Patented Oct. 19, 1971 in the shackleleg to selectively and securely lock the shackle against movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, theimproved padlock according to the present invention includes a casing 1which is provided with two side lodgments or recesses 2 and 3, one ofwhich is longer or deeper than the other. The look is also provided witha U-shaped shackle member 5. The longer leg of the shackle member 5 isrotatably and resiliently supported by a helicoidal spring 4 disposed inthe deeper side lodgement or recess 2. The other leg of the shacklemember 5 fits in the other side lodgement or recess 3. Both legs of theshackle member 5 may be provided with slots 8 on their internal sideswithin which slots 8 movable prismatic locking bolts 9 may fit. Thelocking bolt 9 may be driven through axial movement by a locking block 6operated by means of a key 7.

A vital and very important feature of the present invention resides inthe internal slots 8 provided at the lower end of the U-shaped shacklemember 5. It is important to note that each slot 8 has an L-shaped orfigured longitudinal section with the longer side substantially arcuate,and the shorter side forming an acute angle with the longer side.

The prismatic locking bolts 9 mate or -fit into the internal slots 8.The registering surface of the prismatic locking bolts 9 has atrapezoidal section with its bottom side having an angular inclinationwhich is complementary to that of the shorter side of the internal slot8 in the shackle legs. This produces a double fastening lock.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that theinternal slots 8 in the shackle member 5 have at least one surface whichis oblique to the longitudinal axis of the recesses or lodgments 2 and3. In other embodiments of the invention, it is possible for thisoblique surface to be inclined at any angle relative to the longitudinalaxis of the recess 2 or 3, and in other embodiments may form acute oreven obtuse angles with the longer side of the slot 8.

It is also possible to achieve the advantages of the present inventionby placing the predetermined shaped slots 8 on opposite sides of theshackle member 5. For example, one slot 8 may be placed facing theinternal portion of the U-shaped shackle member 5, and the other slot 8on the opposite leg of the shackle member 5 may be placed on theexternal surface of the shackle member 5. In another possible embodimentof the invention, the slots 8 may both be placed on the outer surfacesof the legs of the shackle member 5 to face in opposite directions andnot face each other.

It should be noted that the locking and opening of the lock according tothis invention is identical to the opening and closing of conventionallocks. In other words, to lock or close the locking according to thepresent invention, the U-shaped shackle member 5 is pressed downwardlywhich forces the locking bolts 9 inwardly until registration of the endof the locking bolt 9 takes place with the slot 8, and at that point theprismatic locking bolts 9 fit or snap into the slots 8 to securely closethe padlock.

I claim:

1. A padlock comprising, in combination:

a casing provided with two parallel recesses;

two positionable locking bolts;

a selectively movable locking block which controls the positioning ofboth of said positionable locking bolts;

21 shackle member having a first leg which may be introduced into one ofsaid two parallel recesses and having a second leg which may beintroduced into the other of said two parallel recesses;

said first leg of said shackle member being provided with a slot havingat least one surface which is disposed obliquely with respect to therespective longitudinal axis of said two parallel recesses;

said second leg of said shackle member being provided with a slot havingat least one surface which is disposed obliquely with respect to therespective longitudinal axis of said two parallel recesses;

said slot provided in said first leg of said shackle member includes anacute dihedral angle, and its associated obliquely disposed surfaceforms part of said acute dihedral angle;

said slot provided in said second leg of said shackle member includes anacute dihedral angle, and its obliquely disposed surface forms part ofsaid acute dihedral angle;

a helicoidal spring disposed in one of said two parallel recesses;

said shackle member is a U-shaped shackle element which is freelysupported on said helicoidal spring disposed in one of said two parallelrecesses;

each of said two parallel recesses being cylindrical in shape;

ROBERT L. WOLFE,

said two positionable locking bolts each being constrained to slide in astraight line path which is substantially perpendicular to saidlongitudinal axis of said two parallel recesses and each having aregistering portion in the shape of a trapezoidal section with itslowermost side having an angular inclination which is complementary tothat of said obliquely disposed surface of its respective associated oneof said slots;

each of said positionable locking bolts being prismatic in shape andbeing constrained to slide parallel to its longitudinal axis;

said slots in said shackle legs face each other and mate with saidpositionable locking bolts;

said facing slots each having a substantially L-shaped longitudinalsection consisting of said oblique surface which is inclined toward theopposite leg and a second surface which is arcuated;

whereby said slots are designed to match the positionable prismaticaxially sliding bolts to produce a double locking effect.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 421,966 2/1890 Peacock 70-38957,033 5/1910 Bruyckar 70-38 991,796 5/1911 Murawski 7038 1,246,28711/1917 Lemon 7038 2,691,288 10/1954 Childs 70-38 2,726,531 12/1955 Vile7038 3,254,516 6/1966 Tornoe 7038 Primary Examiner

